“I was impressed they decided to name it a Stingray, which means they are placing a lot of confidence in this version of the vehicle,” said Brandi Schaffels, TrueCar.com senior editor and content manager. “The biggest difference is it’s just not as smooth and curvy as previous generations. It’s got a lot more angularity to it, but it’s still a very sexy vehicle that has a lot of dynamic design characteristics.”

GM expects the vehicle’s bold new design -- the first since 2004 -- to appeal to a new group of buyers.

“We have pushed the envelope on the styling,” said North America President Mark Reuss following the vehicle’s unveiling. “We needed to take the car to a completely different place than where it has been … and I think we did that largely.”

The Stingray, or “Sting Ray” from 1963-67, has only been used on two other generations of production Corvettes in the vehicle’s 60-year history.

Stingray was last used four generations ago on the Detroit-based automaker’s generation 3 Corvette from 1968-82. The name was first used on the 1959 racing car and again for the second-generation Corvette from 1963-67.

“This is the name we only use to mark special generations of Corvettes,” Reuss said. “And C7 is indeed that special.”

Karl Brauer, TotalCarScore.com editor in chief and CEO, said the new Corvette Stingray definitely made the moves it had to in terms of performance, fuel efficiency and upgraded technology; but he remains undecided on the exterior enhancements.

“If you were going to say that they need to pull in the younger crowd, which they’re openly admitting to, they need to make that leap to the next generation,” he told MLive.com. “They’ve done a very techy-looking exterior.”

In regard to the Stingray moniker, Brauer said it's GM trying to relate to the traditional, and extremely loyal, Corvette nation.

“They brought back the retro name, but nothing else about the car is retro at all,” he said.

The vehicle’s traditional dual round taillights were also traded in for boxier ones that resemble the automaker’s Chevrolet Camaro. But the technology, and features, are far superior than any other vehicle in Chevy’s lineup.

The 2014 Corvette Stingray, according to officials, is more powerful, more full-efficient and more advanced than any other of its predecessors.

“This car is not just about the numbers, it’s about the way it drives,” said Tadge Juechter, Corvette chief engineer during the unveiling. “We’ve transformed the driving experience in every way.”

Juechter said drivers – young or old – said once any person gets behind the wheel, they won’t only know the car “truly lives up to the name Stingray,” but know “Corvettes have changed forever.”

The vehicle features an all-new small-block, LT1 6.2-liter V8 engine that delivers an estimated 450-horsepower and achieve 0-60 in less than four seconds. It includes direct injection, Active Fuel Management, continuously variable valve timing and an advanced combustion system that delivers more power while using less fuel.

“I will eagerly put this car up against any of the top performance cars in the world,” Reuss said. “In terms of design, technology and performance, this car is second to none.”

Corvette has always been a halo, or statement, vehicle for GM more than a sales phenomenon. Corvette sales last year were just 14,132, up 7.4 percent from 13,164 in 2011. A good year for Corvette is around 30,000 sales.

Pricing, fuel efficiency and other details regarding the vehicle were not released.

The new Corvette Stingray will be built at GM’s Bowling Green, Ky., assembly plant, which underwent a $131-million upgrade, including approximately $52 million for a new body shop to manufacture the aluminum frame in-house for the first time.

The 2013 NAIAS is open to the public from Jan. 19-27. More than 50 unveilings from the world’s top automakers are expected during the show’s press preview days Jan. 14 and 15, followed by industry days Jan. 16 and 17. The charity preview, which raised $3 million last year, is Jan. 18.

Follow all of MLive's coverage of the North American International Auto Show at mlive.com/naias.